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<p class=MsoNormalCxSpFirst><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Ladies and Gentlemen,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>The message and images below were sent to me by
our own Edith Smith. You may know her as the “Afghan Lady.” She is the
founder of Heartmade Blessings, the group who makes Afghans for people who are
suffering a tragedy in their lives and who always step up and remember the
families of our fallen troops.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>If you ever wonder if what you do is important, or
if you make a difference…or if your participation or your mission is serious or
really a big deal, please take a look at what Edith sent us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>When you get to the second photo and story,
remember the mission for Sgt. Wesley Durbin, United States Army, killed in
Iraq. Sgt. Durbin had served a full tour of duty in the United States Marine
Corps and feeling that his duty was not yet done, enlisted in the United States
Army and went back to the sand. And he died in defense of his country. If you
still don’t remember; our mission was this past September and it started for us
at the General Aviation terminal at DFW National Airport, meeting a Kalitta charter
airplane carrying Sgt. Durbin home. Do you remember when the family approached
the airplane to meet Wesley for the first time since he had returned to
American soil? We were all lined up showing our respect. A young widow with a
young daughter in tow was crying desperately, and as she approached the
airplane she collapsed on the tarmac, unable to go any farther. Now you
remember. I don’t think anyone who was there will ever be able to forget witnessing
that grief. She, too, stayed that night – all night – at the funeral home.
And the Sergeant that had accompanied Sgt. Durbin all the way home from Iraq
stayed up all night with them both.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>You see, the reasons these photos and their story
won awards is because what they represent – is - a very big deal. The act of
bringing home a service member and placing him/her back in the hands of their
family and placing them in their final resting place is a huge deal. Just
think for a minute; a family, during this most private and strenuous time,
takes the time out of their lives to invite US to share that with them and help
them along this path. Think of the list of others who also receive this great
honor. That list is not very long.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>You and I have the great privilege in
participating in the chain of events depicted in these photographs and stories.
Sit down some time and write down that list of who else gets to do this. Then
eliminate from that list the people who are getting paid to participate. Now
look at who is left. Now ask yourself if what we do is a big deal. Ask
yourself if it’s worth a little cold, or a little heat, or a little
inconvenience for a couple of hours to help out what you are seeing depicted
below. Because what we do doesn’t just happen in pictures. It happens right
before our very eyes. Right here in North Texas. We have seen it, lived it,
experienced it, touched it and talked to the people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Look at the photos below. Read the thank you
letters we have gotten. Read the thank you letters on the national PGR site.
The next time you need a little motivation or kick in the pants to go jump on
the bike or fire up the cage and come on out to a mission…asking yourself if it
matters…I can assure you that the answer is a clear and confident YES.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Thank you, Edith for sending this along. This is
just what we needed to snap us out of our winter rest.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Everyone, please see below.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Thank you. Thank you from me, and from each of
the family members I have had the privilege of speaking to. They have all stopped
to say thank you. And they say it to each and every one of you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Steve Lucas<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>Deputy State Captain<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle>North Texas PGR<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>International
Picture of the Year <br>
Here are two very touching photos honored this year</span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif";color:black'>�</span><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><br>
<br>
</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:black'><br>
</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><img width=500 height=369 id=MA1.1231882498
src="cid:image001.jpg@01C975A3.75587420" alt="cid:X.MA1.1231882498@aol.com"></span><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><br>
First Place</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:black'><br>
<br>
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News <br>
<br>
When 2nd Lt James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed
into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as
passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac. <br>
<br>
During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International
Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people
in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You
gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the
plane that brought him home,' he said. 'They will remember being on that plane
for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine
home. And they should.'</span><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif";
color:black'>�</span><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><br>
<br>
</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:black'><br>
</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><img width=500 height=333 id=MA2.1231882498
src="cid:image002.jpg@01C975A3.75587420" alt="cid:X.MA2.1231882498@aol.com"></span><span
style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><br>
Second Place</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";
color:black'> <br>
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News </span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><br>
<br>
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to
leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The
Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she
fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her
of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing
watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,'
she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted.' </span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormalCxSpLast><o:p> </o:p></p>
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